Optiplex as a HTPC

LoLth

Dotn have the exact spec of the optiplex but its a P4 2.4 processor. I have enough ram lyin garound to bring it up to 2gb. its one of the slim desktop models. Its only for media playback, not for recording or TV signal.

TV has DVI input, Scart, HDMI, RGB.

options for OS are:
Ubuntu , Vista ultimate, windows XP pro or Fedora (core 9 for sh*ts and giggles).

Hard drive: not sure if I can fit two in but initially I'm thinking of a 250gb sata internal

my questions:
1. noise: are optiplex too noisey ? would it be noticeable ?
2. Sound: is onboard good enough or should I spring for an internal soundcard (would have to be half height) or an external creative box ?
3. Graphics: I'm going to have to pick up a graphics card of some description. Only has an AGP slot to play with (or PCI, no PCIe). Any recommendations for a cut price card ? I was bidding on a card on adverts.ie but the original box I had planned melted on me (old PC that must have gotten damp somewhere in storage ) but htat was a full height fanless card which wont fit into an optiplex box - unless I use a riser card but that will exclude the use of any other slots.
4. heat: are fanless cards ok to use ? Any point in poking holes in the case itself to increase airfow ?
5. Remotes: what remote setup would you recommend ? Can I get the MCE remote and receiver seperate? will they work with linux ? alternatively I know I can get the media lab remote and receiver but have no idea if they are windees compatible etc.

any other caveats etc ?

I'm going to use a wireless adapter to pull data from my main PC but will play it locally rather than across the network.

thanks


this is a learning project more than anything else. after this I intend

SouperComputer

Ubuntu , Vista ultimate, windows XP pro or Fedora (core 9 for sh*ts and giggles).

Vista might try your patience. If you are running decent HD's though, it might be worth trying. MCE 2005 would be perfect. 1GB is sufficient.

1. noise: are optiplex too noisey ? would it be noticeable ?

Generally they are OK, but as fans get older, bearings wear etc etc.

2. Sound: is onboard good enough or should I spring for an internal soundcard (would have to be half height) or an external creative box ?

Try onboard, if its good enough for you then its good enough.

3. Graphics: I'm going to have to pick up a graphics card of some description. Only has an AGP slot to play with (or PCI, no PCIe). Any recommendations for a cut price card ? I was bidding on a card on adverts.ie but the original box I had planned melted on me (old PC that must have gotten damp somewhere in storage ) but htat was a full height fanless card which wont fit into an optiplex box - unless I use a riser card but that will exclude the use of any other slots.

Depends largely on the OS. XP MCE or Linux, an FX5200 would be fine. If yoiu plan using Vista, you have no choice but to use a new card due to flaky driver support.

4. heat: are fanless cards ok to use ? Any point in poking holes in the case itself to increase airfow ?

Again, it depends. Somthing low powered like and FX5200 will be fine. Hogher powerd cards in a confined space are going to get HOT! Poking holes will nilly wont help. you need to plan the airflow and perhaps add another fan somewhere.

5. Remotes: what remote setup would you recommend ? Can I get the MCE remote and receiver seperate? will they work with linux ? alternatively I know I can get the media lab remote and receiver but have no idea if they are windees compatible etc.

MS (AKA Philips) remote is fine, works with Linux and MCE/Vista. You can also run it on XP Home or Pro by installing drivers.

pug_

I've a very similar setup to what you're considering and it works perfectly. I considered using an old optiplex, but in the end I wound up using an old Compaq something or other instead purely because it was a slightly smaller case.

It's a p4 2.4Ghz with 1Gig ram. For the graphics card I also required a half height agp card, but I couldn't find any so I wound up getting a GeForce4MX that was half height in size but was attached to a full height slot and hacksawing the unneeded part of the slot off to make it fit. It's not for everybody, I only have a CRT tv so my needs are meagre no hi-def playback required and it works a treat for me anyway.

I went with mythbuntu for the os and it's pretty straightforward if you're not planning to use it for a tv signal. I used the MS remote which worked first time with no real configuration required and it's compatible with every other media centre setup out there that I know of anyway so I'd recommend that one.

I can't comment much on noise only to say that my setup is very quiet, and it's pretty similar to the optiplex. The only time it's gotten noisy was when I tried to play a hi-def movie onto my crappy telly and the cpu went through the roof causing the fan to ramp up drastically to try and cool it down. If you have it lying around maybe try plugging it in for an evening and see if you can live with it?

[EDIT] Forgot to say if you do decide to go down the linux route a mate of mine again with a similar setup has tried a few distributions and performance wise gentoo came out on top by a long ways, but it's a lot more work to get installed if you're not already familiar with linux.

subway

its diffilcut to tell what you are getting here,
as its agp i know its an older optiplec (GX series)
but there are 4 versions 240/260/270/280
and there are 2 desktop sizes in there also.
the one that takes a laptop cd drive and has the USB ports visible on the front,
and the one that takes desktop cd drive and has a cover on the usb ports

LoLth wrote: »

Dotn have the exact spec of the optiplex but its a P4 2.4 processor. I have enough ram lyin garound to bring it up to 2gb. its one of the slim desktop models. Its only for media playback, not for recording or TV signal.

TV has DVI input, Scart, HDMI, RGB.

options for OS are:
go for xp mce, vista is a waste of time on non PCI-E systems.
ive tried it on a whole rake of opti's with mucho frustration

Hard drive: not sure if I can fit two in but initially I'm thinking of a 250gb sata internal
you can fit 2 into the larger of the 2 desktop models
if your going sata im guessing its a gx280?
if your not sure of the model, are you sure it supports sata?

my questions:
1. noise: are optiplex too noisey ? would it be noticeable ?
there are 3 different types of GX series optiplex PSU
they are all interchangeable
the one in the 240, identifiable by the metal grille is NOISY, avoid it
the later ones, with the green plastic fan cover are very queit, unnoticeable unless your sitting on top of it

2. Sound: is onboard good enough or should I spring for an internal soundcard (would have to be half height) or an external creative box ?
the smaller of the 2 desktops has halfheight cards, the larger takes 2 full height via a riser card and one half heigh AGP card

3. Graphics: I'm going to have to pick up a graphics card of some description. Only has an AGP slot to play with (or PCI, no PCIe). Any recommendations for a cut price card ? I was bidding on a card on adverts.ie but the original box I had planned melted on me (old PC that must have gotten damp somewhere in storage ) but htat was a full height fanless card which wont fit into an optiplex box - unless I use a riser card but that will exclude the use of any other slots.
get a 6200, around 30 euros and fine for everything you need, competley fanless. you wont be doing mcuh HD with the processor you have

4. heat: are fanless cards ok to use ? Any point in poking holes in the case itself to increase airfow ?
there fine, leave room at the back of the case for the processsor exhaust to be blown clear as amient temp will raise quickly if the hot air is building up


5. Remotes: what remote setup would you recommend ? Can I get the MCE remote and receiver seperate? will they work with linux ? alternatively I know I can get the media lab remote and receiver but have no idea if they are windees compatible etc.
mce remote

any other caveats etc ?
try to get a GX260 or 280, they have more USB ports, and they are USB 2.0
get a tv card

I'm going to use a wireless adapter to pull data from my main PC but will play it locally rather than across the network.
you should be fine playing SD contetn over a wifi network, but invest in wired ASAP

thanks


this is a learning project more than anything else. after this I intend

LoLth

A quick update on this:

PC is a dell gx 260 (P4 1.6 , 512 ddr , 20gb hdd IDE , CDRom, floppy , riser that can take 2 full pci cards, 1x pci low profile and 1x agp 4x low profile).

Current changes:
300gb IDE (WD 7200 rpm) - not SATA i got that bit wrong
DVD DL R/W
Intend replacing the CPU, just need to check that I have one suitable (board is D845 chipset but cant find the exact model, if its G , GV , GYLLY etc so I'm assuming 400mhz/512kb s478 m pretty sure I have a P4 2.6 with that spec).
ram is up to 2gb DDR266 (2x1gb)

Keeping an eye out for a PCI graphics card with passive cooling though still not decided on low profile or full height (only AGP cards I can find are AGP 8x). Problem with the full height is that the card is mounted essentially upside down due to the riser which sort of defeats teh purpose of the heat sinks.... as it sits over the PSU.

OS: decided to try Mythbuntu and see how it goes. have to pick up a MCE remote next and a wireless card (internal with antenna). All files will be pulled down and played locally instead of over the network (did a bit of reading on the network playback and wireless really doesnt seem up to scratch and my better half would go mental is I started poking holes in walls ).

subway

any agp card will run at the lowest speed, ie, an 8x will underclock to 4x when inserted in the 4x slot afaik.
i have an 8x in an optiplex 260 without issues.

SouperComputer

Looks like you have the bits laying about, so that okay. When costing things, Keep in mind a core2 with well over twice the power of the 2.6 using less juice and runs cheaper DDR2 RAM might be the best way to go long term. Be sure to compare pricing, in a lot of cases, its best to put extra cash into updated hardware.

1GB RAM is sufficient, it will run well with that. IIRC 2.8GHZ was as high at the 400FSB P4's went (with the execption of mobile chips). If you have a 2.6 laying about that runs a 400FSB, then pop it in, but again, dont waste any money on one.

Personally Id see what I could get for the extra 1Gb DDR (its a bit pricey these days) and put the money towards a bigger HD, your graphics card or your next HTPC.

Wireless wise, you can use a Ethernet over Power device, like this. Better latency, consistant bandwith and no potiential castration by the better half. Im currently networking/pimping the house right now, so I know what you mean!

Although AGP 8x is backwards compatiable, it depends on how far back you go. A 400FSB chipset might be borderline. Be sure you check the voltages that your board supports first.